By Kaitlyn Muia
Junior business management and marketing student
At the College, students are required to take FYC 100, which is a first-year Community Engaged Learning course that includes community service. From our freshman year, we are taught that being an active member of our community matters. Many of us continue volunteering across Ewing Township and Mercer County because it is a rewarding experience. Yet, community service does not have to be limited to our immediate community.
As a business management and marketing student and an intern with The Borgen Project, I have learned how closely global stability and economic opportunity are connected. The Borgen Project is a nonprofit organization that works to reduce global poverty, which is why the proposed 85% cut to the International Affairs Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is concerning. The budget accounts for less than 1% of federal spending and aids programs fighting pandemics, reducing hunger, among many other important global initiatives. It also plays an important role in strengthening international markets. This has an impact on businesses in New Jersey, which create future job opportunities for students like us.
Protecting the International Affairs Budget is not just about foreign aid. It is about security, economic and responsible leadership. Volunteering at food banks and mentoring programs are some ways that we can give back to our community. Supporting local nonprofits is another, but it doesn’t have to end there. Working with The Borgen Project helped me realize that speaking up about national policy is just another way to make a difference. It starts with paying attention to what’s happening and speaking up about protecting the International Affairs Budget in FY26.
